Diaphragm-horn.



M. R. HUTCHISON.

DIAPHRAGM HORN.

APPLICATION FELED MAY n. 1911.

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' is a mocha UNITESTATES PATE OFFICE.

MILLER nEEsE n n rcnrson; or waste ORANGE, New JERSEY, assronon TOLOVELL- MCCONNELL MANUFACTURING ,COMPANY, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

DIAPHRAGM-HORN.

Application filed May 11, 1911. Serial No. 626,492.

7 '0 all whom-it may concern:

Be it known that I MILLER REESE HU'rcrrwon, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of West Orange, in the county of Essex and State ofNew Jcrseyghave in vented certain new and useful'lmprovements inDiaphragmHorns, of which the followin is-a specification.

his invention relates to mechanicallyactuated diaphragm alarm orsignaling devices, adapted for use on vehicles, boats, factories andelsewhere. In my prior application filed June 7, 1910, Serial Number565,564, I have disclosed a device of this character-in which thediaphragm is actuated by cooperating friction members, one beingpreferably a rotary driving member driven preferably by power means,such as an electric'motoiyand the other being preferably an oscillatorydriven member coupled to or associated with the diaphragm, the drivenmember of such an assemblage being-alternately frictionallycoupled toand released from the driving member so as to execute rapid to and fromove ment, thereby causing the diaphragm to vibrate and produce a notesuitable for the In the partioular'pre' fcrrcd embodiment illustrated inthat ap plication the friction surfaces were smooth. The frequency andamplitude of vibration of the diaphragm were dependent on the stiffnessand inertia thereof, the character of the 1 surfaces. the magnitude ofthe force holding them together, and the speed of rotation, Theseprinciples are generally applicable to the embodiment of gripmnd-slipoperating signal disclosed .in the present application. In the present.instance I propose to, modify the action in certain particularsbyutilizing toothed inter-fitting surfaces, so that there 1] meshingbetween the driving: and dr "on members and a mechanical cumming of theone away from the other at the occurrence oi the slips. These toothed,grip-and-slip, driving and driven members may take a great variety offorms and they may actuate the diaphragm through a va- Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1,1916,-

riety of connections, either in-the nature of\ loose connections ortightcouplings, though preferably the latter. In the simplest con structionthe driven member is connected to the diaphragm by a bar or link. Thisconnection may be either a thrust member or a tension member. "In thelatter instance, especially, it is preferably coupled to the diaphragmas well as to the driveii member.

The formation ofthe teeth or meshing projections on the driving anddriven members will be determined by the conditions. and the objects inview. Preferably, they have inclined sides on the working side so asreliably to earn each other out of engagement when the proper moment forthe slip occurs. Better results, partic'ulailyin the manneroftherecngagemcnt of'the teeth at the conclusion of-th'eslip, are obtained byinclining the teeth on both sides. The grip-and-slip 'action will belargely governed bythe pitch'of the teeth. Care must be observed thatthe pitch be not, so steep as to be beyondgthe' critical angle at \vhichslipping will not occur under the push orpull of the diaphragm'since theresult would be to rupture the; latter.- In general, the steeper thepitch, the deeper the valleys between the teeth, and the more accuratethe fit of the teetlrinto'ea'ch other, the more reluctantly will themembers separate llfl(l6l the elastic tension of the diaphragm or otherforce opposing the dragging-of the driven by the driving member, andconsequently the greater will be the displacement of the diaphragm inone direction and of its elastic return in the other direction. Withsmooth surfaces suclras shown in my prior application referred to, thegrip-and-slip action was very largely governed by the natural fre quencyand amplitude ofvibration of the diaphragm or by the diaphragm fortifiedin its vibration, by a synchronous resonator, Thus, the signalwas'self-governing so as to hold the diaphragm to vibration synchronouswith the resonator, which is the condition giving maXinuun sound outputfor power expended. This governing action is present in large measure inthe present signal; though the governing may be affected in greater orless measure bythe presence of the teeth, since for a given speed, orfor speeds between given limits, the engagement and retngagement of theteeth will have some tendency to establish a certain range of movementfor the driven member.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention by means ofcertain of the various possible embodiments thereof: Figure 1 is a viewof a horn signal embodying the invention, the signal being shown partlyin section and partly in elevation; Fig. 2 is a side sectional viewshowing the diaphragm and driving and driven members, the case beingbroken away; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing another form of theinvention; Fig. 4 is a plan view of this form; and Fig. 5 is a similarplan view showing still another form.

In the several views, the numeral 1 indicates a suitableresonator-projector, and 2 a diaphragm, it being understood that theresonator is preferably so proportioned as to be synchronous with thenatural or a prominent frequency of the diaphragm. The diaphragm ispreferably held in a suitable case, consisting of a front section 3 anda rear section 4. The base of the resonator is secured to the frontsection in line with the sound-emitting opening 5 therein. The diaphragmis preferably clamped in place at its margins by clamping portions 6, 7of the case sections and cork washers or the like 8, 9, clamping boltsor screws 10 passing through registering openings in the parts.

The driving shaft 11 is preferably, though not necessarily, disposedparallel to the diaphragm. ,It is preferably driven by power means, a'ndmore particularly by an electric motor (not shown) which is inclosed inthe casing 12 and may be of the type disclosed in my .prior application,Serial No. 494.120 filed May 5. 1009, Patent No. 1.100.900 granted Nov.10, 1915. The shaft 11 is pref erably the armature shaft, and itsbearing 13 may be extended into the rear sectionof the diaphragm case,constituting means for holding the diaphragm case and motor casetogether. The driving and driven members may be of any suitable form.

In the form illustrated more particularly in Fig. 2, the driving memberis a disk H mounted on and rotated by the shaft, and

provided on one side with radial teeth 15.

inclined on the advancing sides. The driven member is shown here as asimilar disk 16 loosely mounted on the shaft. with the teeth of itscorrugated face adapted to fit into the spaces between the teeth on-thcdriver. The

driven member is connected with the diaphragm by means of a link or bar18, which is shown pivoted to the driven member. In

are provided for holding the members together with suitable force, forwhich purpose I may employ a spring 21, suitably mounted and pressingagainst the other face ofthe driven member.

Whether the connection or link 18 is tightly coupled to the diaphragm ornot depends upon whether it is to act as a tension member or a thrustmember, and this in turn depends upon the direction of rotation, thatis, a tension member should be coupled, a thrust member need not. I haveshown it pivotally connected to an anchorage .22 suitably secured to thediaphragm.

In operation, under rotation of the toothed driver, the toothed drivingmember is alternately dragged thereby, placing the diaphragm underelastic tension. and slips back when the tension of the diaphragmovercomes the force holding the members together. At the conclusion ofeach slip the spring 21 causes the members to reengage and remain inengagement until the tension of the diaphragm is such as to cam themembers apart. I

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a slightly difi'erent arrangement,in which thedriving member 14 is the yieldable part, being pressed against thedriven member 10 by a spring 21. The driven member is here shown as anarm or 'arrier pivoted on the shaft and carrying a single inserted tooth17 conforming to the recesses in the driver. The link 18 is shownpivoted to the stem of this tooth. for convenience. In fact. the linkmight carry the tooth, in which case the part 10 would be merely a guidemember.

In Fig. 5 the driven member 10 has two oppositely extending arms, eachprovided with a radial tooth 17" formed thereon corresponding to theteeth of the driver. Numerous other embodiments are possible.

I claim:

1. In an alarm or signaling device, a diaphragm, and mechanical meansfor actuating the same ('OIIIIH'lSlllg a rotary driving member and anoscillatory driven member, said members possessing interengaging camteeth and recesses. the driven member being connected with thediaphragm; and means for holding said members coupled frictionally andyicldingly together. whereby the members are successively grippedtogether so that the driven member is dragged by the driving member. anduncoupled by the increasing tension of the diaphragm to permit themembers to cam apart against the action of said holding means so thatthe driven member may slip back under the action of the diaphragm.

2.. In an alarm or signaling'device, a .(ha-

5 phragm, and'mechanical means for actuat mg the same comprising arotary driving member and an oscillatory driven member, said memberspossessing lnterenga'gmg cam teeth and recessesia link connecting the 10driven member with, the dia hragm, and

" 5 mg. tension of the'diaphragm to permit the ,meinbers-to camapartagainst the action of said holding means so that the driven member'mayslip back under theaction of the diaphragm.

0 3. In an alarm or signaling device, a diaphragm, and mechanical meansfor actuatmg the same, comprising toothed grip and slip members, meansfor driving one; of the members, and means whereby the move- 5 ment ofthe other, member with the driving member causes thediaphragm to vibrateand produce sound.

4. A diaphragin alarm or signal having actuatin means comprisingcooperating' {in grip and slip members possessed ofcouplmg projectionsand recesses, means for driving one of sa d members,'and tensional meansfor Opposing the movement 'ot-theother member, and'a diaphragm. arrangedto restrain the driven member from extended movement vhile eoupied withthe driving member, .Whereby the driven member executes to and fromovement under-the a-lternate actuation of the'drivmg member and thediaphragm.

8. In an alarm or signal, actuating means comprising cooperatinggrip-and slip members possessed of coupling projections and recesses,one of said members being the driving member and the other the drivenmember, a diaphragm, and av link coupling the driven member to thediaphragm so that and being separable to a distance-permitting. them toclear each other, yielding means for. holding said members coupled, anda .dia-"' phragm adapted to exert increasing resistance to themovement'of the driven member While coupled to the driving member-and tocause said projections and recesses to cam the members ,apart. i i

]O. In an alarm or signaLand incombina- I tion cooperating grip-and-si ip.members hay- "member while coupled \vith the driving I 'ingfrictionaily engaging meeting portions fiflnember and producingseparation thereof provided with coupling and camming pro gignember'.

and retrograde movement of the driven and actuating means comprisingcooperat mg grip and slip members possessed of coupling projections andrecesses, one of said members being the driving member and "the drivenmember associated with the diaphragm so as to be"yieldingly restrained.5 thereby so as to execute to and fro, coupled and uncoupled,movements, under the actuation of the driving member.

6. In an alarm or signal, a resilient mem ber and actuating meanscomprising co- 50 operating grip and slip members possessed of couplingproj 'ctions and recesses, one of said members being the driving memberand the driven member being tensionally restrained by said resilientmember so as to execute to and fro, coupled and uncoupled, 'moicments,under the artuation of the drivf ing member, and yielding means forbold- }ipg said members coupled and restoring to cou ici'i relation.

7. In an alarm or signal, actuating means comprising cooperating gripand slip members posses e l of coupling pr jections and recesses, one ofsaid members being the driving member and means for driving thisjections and recesses, said -members being yieldingly heldtogether andbeing separable to a distance permitting them toclear each other, andresilient means for producing intermittent slip movementbetween'themembers with attendant camming apart of the members by said projectionsand recesses.

11. in an alarm or signaling'device, the combination of adiaphragm, aresonator coacting therewith, and mechanism under the control of thediaphragm and resonator for setting up vibration in the former, saidnechanism comprising cooperating gripand-slip members havingfrictionally -en'-' gag ng meeting portions provided with mtercngaginprojections and recesses, means for driving one of said members, andconnection between one of the members and the diaphragm, whereby theaction of the members actuates the diaphrag.

12. In a born or signaiing device, the

/ vombination of an elastic diaphragm having a fairly definite amplitudeand frequency of bodily vibration, a diaphragm casing..a shaft disposedsubstantially parailcl with said diaphragm and extending int saidcasing, means for rotating said shaft at high speed, two members carriedby said shaft within said casing and relatively movable longitudinallyof the shaft, one of said members being held against relative rotationin respect to said shaft and the other of said members being capable ofrelative rotation inrrespect to the shaft and adapted to vibrate, thediaphragm by a movement about the axis of the shaft as a center, and aspring for pressing said members together and permitting an axialmovement of one member in respect to'tlie other and a relative rotationdetermined by the governing action of the diaphragm.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York, and State of NewYork, this 5 9th day of May, A. D. 1911.

v MILLER REESE HUTCHISON. \Vitnesses:

IRVING M. OBRIEGHT, JAMES D. BROWN.

